Ademola Lookman was already keen to leave Atalanta Bergamo in the summer, and now he is finally getting his wish. This is good news for Borussia Dortmund.
With his hat trick in the 2024 Europa League final against Bayer 04 Leverkusen, Ademola Lookman secured his own chapter in the club annals of Atalanta Bergamo. Now it’s finally over: as both clubs announced on Monday evening, Lookman is transferring to Atletico Madrid with immediate effect and signing until 2030. The Nigerian international was already absent from the squad for Atalanta’s away game in Como on Sunday afternoon. According to consistent media reports, the Italians, with whom Lookman was under contract until 2027, will receive a transfer fee of €35 million, with a further €5 million possible in bonuses. In 2022, Atalanta had paid only around €12 million to RB Leipzig to sign the speedy attacker—a real coup. In 137 competitive games, Lookman scored 55 goals—including three in Dublin in the club’s greatest success in its history and its first title since 1963.
First PSG, then Inter—and now Atletico
Nevertheless, the relationship between the London-born dribbling artist and the Bergamaschi was not always a close one. Shortly after the Europa League triumph, Lookman missed the Serie A opener because a move to Paris St. Germain was on the cards, which ultimately did not materialize. A year later, the attacking player was keen to move to Inter Milan, but the clubs could not agree and Lookman complained: “The club is blocking the possibility for reasons I don’t understand.”
Now Lookman’s wish to transfer, as expressed at the time, has been fulfilled. Fenerbahce Istanbul is also said to have sent an offer to Bergamo, but instead Lookman is now heading to Spain, where he is expected to revitalize Atletico’s offense. Most recently, the Colchoneros played to a 0-0 draw against relegation candidates Levante, and since the turn of the year, they have scored more than one goal in only one of eight competitive games. Lookman has scored only two goals in twelve league games for Atalanta this season, but recently impressed with three goals and four assists for Nigeria at the Africa Cup of Nations.
Lookman’s transfer, who also attracted the interest of FC Bayern last summer, is also good news for Borussia Dortmund. In the Champions League play-offs, BVB will face Atalanta Bergamo, who will now have to compete without their star player.
Eintracht Frankfurt also got a taste of what Lookman is capable of on the big stage in the league: in Atalanta’s 3-0 win in Hesse, the Nigerian shone with a goal and an assist. Instead, Lookman will now face Belgian representatives Club Brugge with Atletico.
